BULIMBA STATE SCHOOL OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (A Sub-Committee of Bulimba State School P & C Association) Chairperson: Jacquita Miller Secretary: Gayle Healey Treasurer: Kirsten Cusack PARENT INFORMATION SHEET We are proud that our Outside School Hours Care Service commenced operating in February 1997, thanks to the efforts of the committee, school administration, many parents, and our staff. We value any constructive feedback or ideas, and these can be communicated to our staff, management committee, or a note left in the office. 1. OUR VENUE: Phone No. 3395 9622 or 0418 759 449 (including messagebank service) or e-mail OSHC@bulimbass.eq.edu.au The OSHC Room is under the main building; children have the use of the playground, and underneath the main building for games and messy activities. We are happy in our present venue however we hope to improve these over the next 12 months with substantially more sheltered "indoor" play space. The sub-committee is currently working on these improvements and the longer term facility requirements of the service. 2. OUR STAFF All our staff members come well recommended, and we are very happy to have them with us. Please introduce yourselves. All staff hold a current first aid certificate and suitability card. Natalie Strachan -Co ordinator Natalie has been with B.S.S.O.S.H.C. for over 8 years and has a wealth of experience Natalie is looking forward to obtaining her Diploma in Childrens Services. Dean Patrick -Assistant Coordinator Dean has been with B.S.S.O.S.H.C for over 2 years. Dean is currently studying Education at Uni. Dean is also a Bulimba State School swimming teacher aide. 3. OPERATIONS ALL FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEE ASSISTANCE See centre staff for details on how to claim for fee assistance Current From 17 Sept 2007 Before School: 7.00 - 9.00am $9.50 casual $11.00 $9.50 casual $11.00 After School: 3.00 - 6.00pm $11.00 casual $13.50 $13.00 casual $15.00 Vacation Care: 7.00 - 6.00pm $33.00 causal $38.00 $35.00 casual $38.00 Excursions may be conducted during Vacation Care periods. Additional excursion costs are payable by parents to ensure excursions are cost neutral to the service. Details of the excursions and their costs will be detailed in the Holiday program issued 3 weeks before term end. Breakfast is supplied in the morning and afternoon tea in the afternoon. Preschoolers are escorted to their class in the morning and to the OSHC room in the afternoon. We are currently approved to take up to 65 children, and priority for places is in line with centre policy and departmental guidelines. Two staff are employed at all times. Additional casual assistants work as needed. The children to staff ratio under current legislation is 1:13 4. PROCEDURES Key policy and procedures are as follows: An Annual membership Fee of $20.00/family applies to all families who wish to use the service. Enrolment forms are available from OSHC staff. Children must be enrolled and bookings made in advance, except in emergency. Enrolment details must be supplied before a child can use the service. Bookings may be permanent or casual however, to hold your place at the centre on a given day, permanent bookings are essential. If additional places become available on certain days casual bookings will be accepted for children who require care on a non-regular basis. A higher fee is charged for casual bookings. If your child is not able to attend as arranged, please advise as soon as possible preferably at least 48 hours in advance. Fees will be charged for non-attendance unless 48 hours or more notice is given to enable staffing requirements to be reassessed. Likewise if you require changed days, or casual days, please let staff know. Messages for the Co-ordinator may be left on 0418 759 449 (messagebank), in person, in writing or during opening hours on 3395 9622. For duty of care it is required that Parents must sign children IN for Before School and Vacation Care, and sign OUT for After School and Vacation Care. The staff can accept no responsibility for children until they are formally handed over by signing the child in. Children need to be collected on time. There is a late collection penalty of $10.00 for every 15 minutes (or part thereof) after 6.00pm. Please let staff know if you are going to be held up, and other arrangements need to be made. Children may be collected only by persons authorised on the enrolment form, or as advised. No child will be permitted to leave the centre on their own. Fees are to be paid on the last day of attendance each week. Casual users must pay on booking. All Vacation care must also be paid in advance on booking. Fees can be paid by EFTPOS, cheque, cash, online payments directly into the Centre's bank account or by weekly direct debit to a selected credit card (available from Term 4 2007). Please remember that this service is managed by volunteer parents for the benefit of families and the community and is non-profit - we cannot operate if fees are not paid promptly. Fees will be charged LESS any Child Care Benefit due. Remember - childcare Benefit can only be deducted from the date we are advised by Family Assistance Office in writing. It is your responsibility to apply for childcare Benefit and to advise promptly on any changes to your circumstances, which may affect your percentage. All families who have other children using any type of care must fill in a Parent Statement form. The staff have forms and can answer any questions you may have. Information Lines: Family Assistance Office 136150 Health and Family Services 1800 670 305 Priority for outside school hours places will be in line with Commonwealth Government guidelines. Medication cannot be administered unless a Medical Consent form is completed; the medication is clearly labelled with the child's name and dosage details, and is accompanied by a letter from your doctor, stating dosage details and the name of the child. Parents will be advised if any accident/injury has occurred. Minor incidents will be notified to the parent on collection. Major incidents will be notified as soon as possible. Detail description of the incident and any action taken by staff, will be filed in the Accident/Incident folder. In the event of a serious injury, a local doctor/ambulance will be contacted immediately, then the parent/emergency contact notified. Attendance at school based before and after school activities such as sport, music, speech and drama can be arranged. Please see the Co-ordinator for details of Centre Policy. The OSHC Sub-Committee holds Management meetings on the first Wednesday of each month (at 6:15pm) and Planning meetings every six (6) months or so (announced in the school newsletter). If you have any issues or suggestions you would like discussed, please feel free to attend, or leave a note for the Committee.